| Recycling has always seemed like the easy, intuitive way for each of us to do our part, but the system may not be as easy, or as straightforward, as it seems. Consumers are faced with confusing and conflicting information on the daily about what can and can’t be recycled, how to properly recycle, and quite frankly, where most of their waste is actually going. Americans buy billions of plastic and glass bottles and aluminum and steel cans each year, however, according to the Container Recycling Institute, two-thirds of all beverage containers never get recycled, instead ending up in landfills. Are bottle bills the answer? Last year, ConservAmerica joined a coalition of supporters in favor of Recycling Refund programs. Recycling refunds, also known as beverage container redemption programs, deposit return systems, and “bottle bills,” are programs that place a fully refundable deposit on beverage containers. Can creating an economic incentive, and harnessing the power of the free market, improve sustainable behaviors? ConservAmerica will host a webinar to explore market-based solutions to the recycling dilemma. Join us on Thursday, August 17 at 10 am for a discussion with Resident Senior Fellow at R Street, Philip Rosetti, and Vice President of Sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute, Scott Breen, moderated by ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer. We will also hear from Hannah Flygare, who recently authored a white paper about renewable energy and battery waste management in the U.S. In the paper, she outlines the current state of recycling for solar panels, wind turbines, and lithium-ion batteries along with some policy options. Click here to register for this webinar. Panelists Philip Rossetti conducts research on energy, climate, and environmental policy to identify low-cost and free-market opportunities to improve environmental outcomes. He is also the lead author of Low-Energy Fridays, a weekly series where R Street breaks down a complicated energy topic. Before joining R Street, Philip was a fellow working with the minority staff of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. This position supported congressional staff through policy and data analysis to brief legislators and supported the congressional mandate of producing policy recommendations for congressional climate action. Prior to that, he was the director of Energy Policy at the American Action Forum, a center-right economically focused think tank. He was responsible for conducting economic analysis on federal energy and environmental policy, with over 50 publications. Philip had his work featured in notable outlets such as the Washington Post, Axios, Politico, The Hill, and others. Scott Breen Scott Breen is vice president of sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI). CMI represents U.S. metal can manufacturers and their suppliers. His responsibilities include promoting the can as a sustainable/circular package, advocating for federal and state legislation and regulation that reflect the can’s sustainability advantages, and leading the industry’s efforts to build upon the can industry’s leading recycling rates. Scott’s roles prior to CMI were associate manager of the Sustainability and Circular Economy Program at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and attorney-adviser at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Along with his position at CMI, Scott also explores various aspects of sustainability as creator and co-host of the podcast Sustainability Defined. Sustainability Defined has monthly episodes that reach thousands of listeners across more than 100 countries and all 50 states. Hannah K. Flygare is a public policy analyst with a background in chemical engineering. She has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to becoming a policy analyst, she worked as a process engineer in the biodiesel and pharmaceutical industries. She now enjoys the fast-paced, ever-changing world of energy policy research and writing. Click here to register for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. |
